Jef Holm - Bachelorette 8 - Discussion

Could be that at this point, PW considers association with Jef Holm more of a liability than an asset. Maybe it has to do with salaries --- you know, someone actually working making as much as his counterpart jumping from college undergrad hook up to another?

All we really know about Jef is he talks a good game and I don't think that particular talent is worth all that much ...

Amberish wrote:Could be that at this point, PW considers association with Jef Holm more of a liability than an asset. Maybe it has to do with salaries --- you know, someone actually working making as much as his counterpart jumping from college undergrad hook up to another?

All we really know about Jef is he talks a good game and I don't think that particular talent is worth all that much ...

Better late than never, at least they finally had a spiritual awakening!
Yawn found a good fit with Hydroxycut, I am sure F will find a good fit, too--perhaps with Hanes underwear or Bounty the quicker picker upper. (soaks up great!)

It's difficult when you work with your friends - things that should just be professional become personal and feelings get involved. Cody also unfollowed Brono and Weslie who are kind and lovely people and who still seems to be on good terms with Jef, so if something went down, it appears that Brono and Weslie were on Jef's side. And I don't know where the CEO, Ken, is in all of this but he doesn't seem to be very good at his job.

Cody was the one with the burning desire to build wells. Jef had the $$. Brono is a photographer and designed the bottle. Weslie wrote a blog. It is certianly conceivable that when Ken took over as CEO and started to run the operation as a real company with a profit/loss statement and a maketing plan that didnt involve coeds and a party bus, the company could no longer justify their salaries and expenses. Happens all the time when mamagement changes. If the current website is indicative of new management, they have refined their message .... at least they now define their "biodegradable" bottles and note that a donation directly to charity does more good than buying PW in plastic bottles. But if you are going to buy bottled water ... buy the pretty bottle that contributes a few cents to dig wells.

I have to get out of this thread. I cant stand this guy and shouldnt make comments :puke:

Jef, for 2 years prior to going on the Bachelorette, set up and ran the company as CEO. During that time they got the company going, got distributorship agreements with grocery stores in Utah, Whole Foods, Marriott, and other companies in Utah, bought the Bus, leased out a beautiful space and had a growing roster of employees. Through Jef's exposure on the show the brand got name recognition, followers, and a lot of awareness was brought to the world water crisis. I think the boy did good. Since the Bachelorette, Jef has not been running the day to day of the company but was still involved in promoting it and I think that Cody seems focused on retail sales rather than water sales because those items increased due to Jef's popularity. Since Ken was hired to actually run the company, I see no new water distributorships except for the baby grocery store in CLT that Jef set up, a shrinking list of employees and downsizing in building and space. Maybe that's all part of the business plan, but honestly I think Jef did a good job as CEO and did his job in bringing awareness to People Water, and now has left either due to a fight, due to lack of interest anymore, or due to just having other opportunities to pursue ... I don't know. I have no idea what made him leave, but as I said before, I have no reason to lay the blame solely on his shoulders for the split. I have to defend his business practices, because I honestly believe he did a great job building a company and should be given some credit for it!

Regardless of his antics as of late, I'm not sure why they wouldn't continue to recognize him as one of the founders though? Must've gotten really ugly.

I do however think this is the best direction for People Water if they want to be taken seriously.

mare2 wrote:Regardless of his antics as of late, I'm not sure why they wouldn't continue to recognize him as one of the founders though? Must've gotten really ugly.

I do however think this is the best direction for People Water if they want to be taken seriously.

Hey Mare!!!! Missed ya!
I think it will be interesting to see how they do from this point forward. If Ken is still involved ... if Cody will more be the one running the company. I'm not sure how they will do without Jef's "celebrity" to drive the product sales. They are linking to other "celebrities" now like Taya Starling and some other professional skateboarders and surfers but I'm not sure how wide those people's fan base is. If they focus on selling the water, and the water is a good product, like they did prior to the bachelorette, I think they may do ok. I will definitely be watching!!! So far it doesn't seem like many people have noticed that Jef has left, including Wet Paint even. When they do notice, they will have to make a statement of some sort! I'm sure the statement won't tell the true story, but I'm interested to hear it!

JenTen1585 wrote:Cody also unfollowed Brono and Weslie who are kind and lovely people and who still seems to be on good terms with Jef, so if something went down, it appears that Brono and Weslie were on Jef's side.

I noticed this as well. I also noticed that Wes and Brono who usually like all of Cody's and PW IG pics haven't been lately (like the last two weeks) and I couldn't find either of them following him Cody. Although I could be wrong and that could be just my IG acting up, as it does sometimes.

Although, I think one person mentioned that WetPaint didn't even know about it yet. I would bet a lot of money that they definitely know as they seem quite friendly with the PW team, I feel like they may have agreed not to break any news on it for a little bit... we shall see.

Regardless of what happened, as there are two sides to every story, I find it always sad when stuff like this happens with good friends.

I got an email today from Zagg, promoting an upcoming video series about 12 influential people (their words not mine). And guess who is one of the 12? Yes, Jef. He appears in the video trailer with people water bottles in the background. Didn't really pay attention to his words. If someone else doesn't link it, I will later.

^^^ That is a promotion for Zagg.

Might be cross promoting PW and Zagg, but most likely that Jef was personally paid for his promotional participation given it refers to him as the Bachelorette winner.

Looks like it was filmed months ago and too bad Zagg didn't get it out earlier for sooner, rather than later, for the Bachelor has aired and the new Bachelorette is being filmed and Jef is rapidly losing relevancy.

Amberish wrote:^^^ That is a promotion for Zagg.

Might be cross promoting PW and Zagg, but most likely that Jef was personally paid for his promotional participation given it refers to him as the Bachelorette winner.

Looks like it was filmed months ago and too bad Zagg didn't get it out earlier for sooner, rather than later, for the Bachelor has aired and the new Bachelorette is being filmed and Jef is rapidly losing relevancy.

It was filmed three weeks ago actually - the day when Jef gave the interview with the HERO clothing guys as well. The guy who filmed it posted about it and posted pics at the time.

Thanks. Didn't know. Also, seems that removing Jef from PW was sudden and, even, unexpected.

tigertiz wrote:

He co-founded the company, so I am sure that "they" (since he would be part of the "they") did not fire him.

Steve Jobs was fired from Apple. Founders get the boot all the time, once they sell enough of the company to someone else.
I believe I heard about this as well, jelle :

When the new CEO/COO came on board, I believe he made a "large investment" in the company and bought it out. It is somewhere in the "news" on the PW site ... or was.

Yep, the person putting in large amounts of money usually makes sure he ends up with control over any and all decisions, that would include firing a founder if they wanted to.

My guess would be that Jef kept shares in the company in some way, but not control.

I worked with a business where one founder fired the other a couple of years in. They both had had their names in the company name and everything. One was supposed to be the creative force and the other the money. Well, after some costly mistakes by the creative force, the money person decided to go it alone.

With Jobs, wasn't it after the company went public? In that situation, a board of directors would take control.